Christ's Final Victory: The Reign That Abolishes Death
Christ reigns until every enemy, including death, is defeated.
1 Corinthians 15:24-28 (BSB)
24 Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power.
25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.
26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
27 For “God has put everything under His feet.” Now when it says that everything has been put under Him, this clearly does not include the One who put everything under Him.
28 And when all things have been subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will be made subject to Him who put all things under Him, so that God may be all in all.
What is the big idea of 1 Corinthians 15:24-28?
Christ reigns until every enemy, including death, is defeated.
How does 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 point to Christ?
Through His death and resurrection, Jesus Christ began the defeat of every power opposed to God. His reign will culminate in the final destruction of death and the restoration of God’s rightful rule over all creation.
How does 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 relate to the life and ministry of Jesus?
During His earthly ministry Jesus proclaimed the coming kingdom of God and demonstrated His authority over sin, demons, and death, realities that will be fully subdued at the completion of His reign.
Authorial Intent
Paul explains the future sequence of Christ’s reign in which He subdues every enemy, abolishes death, and ultimately hands the kingdom to the Father.
Literary Context
These verses continue Paul's explanation of the order of resurrection introduced in 15:20–23. Having shown that Christ's resurrection guarantees the resurrection of believers, Paul now describes the ultimate goal of redemptive history. The resurrection leads to the final defeat of every enemy and the full establishment of God's kingdom. This section connects the resurrection not only to personal salvation but to the cosmic restoration of creation under God's reign.
Historical Context
Paul's explanation of Christ's reign addresses both Jewish expectations of the Messiah's kingdom and Greco-Roman misunderstandings about power and authority. By presenting the defeat of death and hostile powers, Paul emphasizes the comprehensive scope of Christ's victory.
Chapter: 1 Corinthians 15
Christ Is Risen, the Dead Will Be Raised, and Death Will Be Destroyed
Because Christ has been bodily raised from the dead as the firstfruits of his people, believers will also be raised, death itself will be defeated, and therefore Christian faith, holiness, suffering, and labor are meaningful and steadfast in the Lord.